Amusement device.



PATBNTED DEC. 15, 1903.

C. A. NEEDHAM.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 4, 19'03.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 746,986. PATENTED DEG. 15, 1903. o. A. NEE'DHAM. AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 746,986. Patented December 15, 1903.

UNrrnn dramas Farrar Ormes.

CHARLES A. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE G. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Ali/IIUSEWENT DEVHCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,986, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed March 4, 1903. Serial No. 146.253. (No model.) I

T all whom, t may concern: may consist of a wire, cord, or other suitable Be it known that l, CHARLES A. NEEDHAM, suspension device drawn taut between two a citizen of the United States, and a resident suitable supports 2 and 3. of the borough of Manhattan, in the city and In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the 5 State of New York, have invented a new7 and hull or body of the boat is denoted by 4, and 55 useful Improvement in Amusement Devices, is preferably sharpened at both ends to perof which the following is a specification. mit the boat to be moved in both directions My invention relates to an improvementin along its way or track without appearing to amusement devices, and has for its object to be moving rearwardly. A mast 5 uprises xo provide an amusement device comprising a from the hull 4 of the boat, which mast is 6o way or track-such, for instance, as a wire mounted to rock on its own axis. The foot or string, which carries a boat provided with of the mast is stepped in the hull of the boat sails for propelling the boat along the said and a bracket 6 uprises from the deck and way or track. supports the mast a short distance above the [5 A further object is to provide a device of same. In the present instance l have shown 65 the above character in which the sails may the mast as carrying a mainsail 7 and jib 8. be automatically reversed when the boat A platform 9 is fixed to rock with the mast5 reaches a predetermined point on the way or and is located just above the bracket 6. The track for permitting the sails to propel the mainsail-sheet 10 is adjustably secured to zo boat in the opposite direction, thus causing the rearwardly-projecting portion of the plat- 7o the boat to traverse the way or track back form 9 and the foot of the jib-stay 11 is seand forth automatically as long as there is cured to the forwardly-projecting portion of sufficient wind to cause the sails to move the the said platform. The jib-sheet 12 is also boat. adjustably secured to the said platform 9.

A further object is to provide a device of By this means l am enabled to adjust the 75 the above character which will be very simsails of the boat to the proper position to perple and will not be liable to become disarmit the wind to propel the boat along the way ranged by rough usage. or track to the best advantage.

A practical embodiment of my invention is The way or track 1 is located in a longi- 3o represented in the accompanying drawings, tudinal groove 13, which opens through the 8o in whichkeel of the boat, and the said keel of the boat Figure 1 represents the amusement device is provided with counterbalance-Weights 14,

in side elevation, the boat being shown in which tend to keep the boat at all times in a full lines headed in one direction and in vertical position upon the way or track.

dotted lines headed in the opposite direction The means which I have shown for revers- `8 5 after the sails have been reversed by the ening the sails when the boat reaches a predegagement'of the reversing device by the stop termined point on the way or track is concarried by the way or track. Fig. 2isa transstructed, arranged, and operated as follows: verse horizontal section in the plane of the A longitudinally-sliding bar 15 is mounted 4o line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end on the boat 4 to slide in suitable guides 22 9o view of the boat with the mast broken away 23, and a flexible connection 16 is passed and the sails removed. Fig. 4 is a view in around the mast and has its opposite ends seside elevation of a modified form. Fig. 5 is cured to the bar 15, as shown at 17 18. The an end view of the same, the mast being bar 15 is so arranged that it will project a broken away and the sails removed. Fig. 6 slight distance beyond the forward end of the 95 is a side view of a third form of my invenboat when the boat is being propelled in one tion; and Fig. 7 is an end view of the same, direction, so that the said forwardly-projectthe mast being broken away andthe sails reing end of the bar will beengaged by one of moved. l the supports 2 or 3 of the way or track and 5o The way or track is denoted by 1, and it forced rearwardly. This rearward moveroo ment of the bar will rock the mast 5 and platform 9 a half-revolution, thus reversing the sails and permitting the Wind to drive the boat in the opposite direction.

In the forms shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the groove 19 for receiving the way or track l opens through the side of the hull, and in this form it is intended to manually remove the boat from the Way or track and reverse it to cause the boat to be propelled in the opposite direction.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown the boat as supported by the Way or track by means of suspension-hooks 20 projecting upwardly from the deck, a hook bracket or step 2l also being provided for the mast 5, so that the Way or track may run longitudinally along the middle of the boat, so that the boat is equally balanced on the Way or track. In this form also it is intended that the boat should be manually removed from the Way or track when it reaches a predetermined point and reversed for permitting it to be driven in the opposite direction.

The amusement device constructed and arranged as above set forth is extremely simple and strong and is one in which the sails may be adjusted so as to obtain the best effect from the wind-pressure.

It is to be understood that the supports 2 and 3 of the way or track may be of any suitable form.

It is evident that changes might be resorted to in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

' What I claim is- 1. An amusement device comprisinga Way or track and a boat removably supported thereby, said boat being provided with sails for propelling it along the Way or track.

2. An amusement device comprising a Way or track, and a boat having a longitudinal groove therein, for receiving the Way or track for supporting the boat, said boat having sails for propelling it along the Way 0r track.

3. An amusement device comprising a Way or track and a boat having a longitudinal groove therethrough, opening to the exterior of the boat for removably receiving the Way or track therein, the said boat having sails for propelling it along the way or track.

4. An amusement device comprising a Way or track and a boat having a longitudinal groove therethrough for receiving the Way or track, a mast and sails surmounting the boat for propelling it along the way or track and a counterbalance-Weight carried by the boat below the groove for normally holding the boat in a vertical position on the Way or track.

An amusement device comprising a Way or track, a boat supported thereby, a mast supported to rock in suitable bearings carried by the boat, sails carried by the mast and a supplemental platform to which the sails are attached fitted to rock with the mast, a reversing device carried by the boat and means -for operating the reversing device when the boat reaches a predetermined point on the Way or track for permitting the sails to propel the boat in the opposite direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 19th day of February, 1903.

CHARLES A. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, HENRY THIEME. 

